Hawaii’s 

American-Japanese  Problem 

A Campaign 

to  Remove  Causes  of  Friction 
Between  The  American  People  and  Japanese 


Report  of  First  Year’s  Campaign 

January  to  December,  1 921 


BY 


TAKIE  OKUMURA 
UMETARO  OKUMURA 

1239  South  King  Street,  Honolulu,  T.  H. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/hawaiisamericanj00okum_0 


1.  MOTIVE. 


Hawaii  is  truly  “The  Paradise  of  the  Pacific”.  Every 
stranger  landing  on  these  shores  is  invariably  fascinated 
not  only  by  her  natural  beauty  and  mild  tropical  climate, 
but  by  her  warm  hospitality  and  genuine  cosmopolitanism. 
There  is  not  a trace  of  violent  race  prejudice,  or  hatred. 
IMen  of  all  races  and  nationalities  live  side  by  side,  and  are 
working  shoulder  to  shoulder  in  harmony  and  friendship. 
In  public  schools,  children  of  all  races  and  nationali.ies  are 
taught,  without  any  discrimination,  American  ideas  and 
ideals.  Equal  treatment  and  equal  opportunity  are  given 
to  all.  It  is  no  wonder  that  the  late  Secretary  of  the  Inter- 
ior, Franklin  K.  Lane,  on  his  first  visit  to  Hawaii,  was  mov- 
ed to  say:  “The  example  of  these  islands,  the  justice 

which  men  find  here,  the  liberty  which  men  gain  here,  who 
come  with  a purpose  to  make  themselves  of  us — these  are 
things  of  ultimately  greater  moment  in  their  reactions  upon 
other  peoples  than  the  use  we  make  of  the  resources  with 
which  these  islands  have  been  endowed”,  or  “that  group 
of  islands  today  is  one  great  missionary  to  the  whole  Orient, 
for  out  of  those  islands  there  is  being  cast,  as  a radium 
casts  its  light,  a .sense  and  consciousness  of  what  civiliza- 
tion means,  and  those  little  tots  of  3,  5,  10  and  15  years  of 
age  of  all  these  nationalities  that  are  foreign  to  us — those 
little  tots  are  being  raised  not  merely  with  a deep  adoration 
for  our  flag,  but  with  a real  sense  of  what  that  flag  means”. 

Ill  feeling  against  Japanese  was  hitherto  unheard  of.  But 
since  the  Foreign  Language  School  Question  of  1919,  when 
Japanese  rose  en  masse  in  blind  opposition,  and  fru.strated 
an  Americanization  project,  the  sentiment  of  the  community 
toward  Japanese  in  general  seemed  to  have  radically  chang- 
ed. The  English  press  for  the  first  time  preached  anti- 
Japanese  sentiment.  A wide  gulf  between  American  peo- 


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pie  and  Japanese  appeared,  and  the  two  peoples  came  to 
look  upon  each  other  with  mutual  suspicion  and  misunder- 
standing. 

The  strike  of  Japanese  laborers  on  Oahu  sugar  planta- 
tions in  1920  gave  a finishing  touch  to  this  ever-widening 
gulf.  \'arious  circumstances  entered  in,  and  it  did  not 
remain  a mere  industrial  issue  of  capital  and  labor.  It 
turned  out  to  be  a terrific  clash  between  American  people 
and  Japanese.  The  disturbance  thus  precipitated  by  the 
Japanese  laborers  served  not  only  as  excellent  material  for 
yellow  papers  and  jingoes,  but  also  as  a means  of  deepening 
the  cloud  which  has  been  cast  over  the  hitherto-friendly 
relations  between  the  American  people  and  the  Japanese. 
Rain  is  sure  to  come  down  in  torrents  when  heavy  clouds 
gather.  What  could  we  do  if  a big  storm  like  California’s 
should  come?  W’e  would  be  too  late  to  do  anything. 
While  there  is  time,  we  felt  that  we  must  strive  to  dispel 
the  thickening  clouds,  by  enabling  the  Japanese  to  see  their 
mistakes  and  urging  them  to  go  more  than  half  way  in 
settling  their  differences  with  the  American  people. 

The  root  of  all  problems  between  the  two  peoples  lies  in 
the  mistaken  fundamental  ideas  of  Japanese.  They  con- 
stantly harp  on  their  traditional  “Yamato  Damashii”,  and 
endeavor  to  solve  every  problem  with  that  spirit.  Some 
even  look  upon  the  training  of  children,  born  in  these  is- 
lands, as  an  act  of  gross  disloyalty  to  the  country  of  their 
forefathers.  We  felt  that  unless  these  mistaken  ideas  are 
eradicated,  no  solution  of  problems  which  vitally  concern 
two  peoples  in  Haw’aii  can  be  worked  out,  and  in  order  to 
destroy  these  false  ideas  we  entered  upon  a campaign  of 
education,  beginning  in  January,  1921. 

We  were  also  moved  to  go  into  this  territory-wide  cam- 
paign of  education  by  a letter  written  by  an  ex-Governor 
of  Hawaii  to  a certain  intimate  friend  of  ours.  The  letter 


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read  thus  in  part : 

“I  agree  with  you  it  is  most  unfortunate,  for  I re- 
turned to  find  those  who  in  the  past  years  were  op- 
posed to  the  Japanese  now  very  radical  and  outspoken ; 
while  those  like  myself,  who  had  high  admiration  for 
the  Japanese  and  looked  forward  with  confidence  to 
the  future  when  they  could  vote,  are  forced  to  admit 
that  our  experiment  with  the  ‘melting-pot’  in  Hawaii 
in  trying  to  bring  out  good  Americans  from  all  kinds 
of  blood  and  people  does  not  now  look  hopeful,  al- 
though I still  have  faith  so  long  as  there  are  few  men 
like  you  and  others  who  I believe  have  buried  their 
children  in  Hawaii  and  who  wish  to  make  these  is- 
lands their  homes,  whose  loyalty  is  undivided  but  who 
still  have  respect  without  loyalty  to  the  country  from 
which  they  sprang”. 


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2.  PREPARATION. 


There  are  several  reasons  why  we  believe  we  are  special- 
ly qualified  to  carry  on  this  campaign  of  education.  First, 
since  the  year  of  Hawaii’s  annexation  to  the  United  States, 
we  have  been  urging  in  our  speeches,  writings  and  conver- 
sation that  Japanese  must  adapt  themselves  to  the  customs 
and  manners  of  America,  that  children  born  in  these  islands 
must  be  educated  into  good  and  loyal  American  citizens, 
and  that  Japanese  must  discard  all  mistaken  ideas  and  have 
courage  and  willingness  to  go  more  than  half-way  in  settl- 
ing their  differences  with  the  American  people.  The 
majority  of  our  countrymen  misunderstood  us.  They 
failed  to  grasp  our  ideas,  and  we  were  attacked  and  sneered 
at  by  Japanese  papers  as  “traitor”,  “spy”,  or  “betrayer  of 
Japan  and  the  Japanese.”  Naturally  men  and  women  in 
Honolulu  and  elsewhere  who  have  exactly  the  same  ideas 
as  we  have  are  afraid  to  express  themselves  in  the  open, 
for  fear  of  harsh  criticisms,  or  injury  to  their  profession 
or  business.  We  were  therefore  forced  to  come  forth  in 
their  stead. 

Secondly,  we  have  lived  in  ITawaii  more  than  27  years, 
and  have  been  privileged  to  gain  many  friends  among 
American  people.  We  believe  our  views  are  well  under- 
stood by  American  people,  and  therefore  feel  we  are  in 
a right  position  to  dispel  the  misunderstandings  between 
American  people  and  Japanese. 

Thirdly,  since  September,  1896,  we  have  maintained  a 
Christian  Boys’  Home,  and  within  the  last  25  years  have 
looked  after  more  than  600  boys.  Some  of  these  boys  have 
gone  to  Japan  or  America;  but  the  majority  are  working 
right  here  in  Hawaii  on  different  sugar  plantations.  On 
every  plantation  there  are  at  least  two  or  three  young  men, 
who  have  formerly  lived  in  our  Home.  They  understand 


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our  ideas  well,  and  we  believed  that  if  we  should  launch 
out  a campaign,  they  and  their  parents  or  relatives  would 
be  glad  to  help  us. 

These  advantages  and  our  keen  desire  for  bringing  about 
a better  understanding  between  American  people  and  Jap- 
anese in  Hawaii  influenced  us  to  plan  out  a campaign  among 
adult  Japanese.  We  laid  our  plan  of  campaign  before  a 
group  of  American  friends,  and  received  their  hearty  en- 
dorsement and  promise  of  support.  But  we  felt  we  were 
not  quite  ready  to  launch  out  in  a campaign  of  this  sort 
without  first  securing  something  which  would  really  assist 
and  encourage  us  against  the  dickerings  and  counter-cam- 
paign of  certain  elements  among  the  Japanese. 

The  Sunday  School  Convention  at  Tokyo  (in  October, 
1920)  offered  an  excellent  opportunity  for  Takie  Okumura 
to  visit  Japan,  and  meet  some  of  the  most  influential  men, 
like  \*iscount  Shibusawa,  \'iscount  Kaneko,  Baron  Saka- 
tani,  and  others.  On  July  14th,  he  left  Honolulu,  and 
reached  Yokohama  on  the  24th.  Three  days  later,  July 
27th,  accompanied  by  Dr.  T.  Harada,  now  professor  at  the 
University  of  Hawaii,  he  interviewed  Viscount  Shibusawa, 
and  told  him  the  main  purpose  of  his  visit  to  Japan.  He 
was  invited  to  a banquet  of  the  Nichi-Bei  KankeiTin  Kwai 
( Japan-America  Relation  Committee)  on  August  3rd,  at 
the  Bankers’  Club,  Tokyo,  a'nd  was  given  a rare  opportunity 
to  speak.  He  spoke  very  frankly  on  the  actual  conditions 
of  Japanese  in  Hawaii,  causes  of  all  misunderstandings, 
or  anti-Japanese  sentiment,  and  the  necessity  for  Japanese 
becoming  Americanized,  as  follows:  (briefly) 

“In  America  voice  of  anti-Japanese  sentiment  is 
becoming  louder  and  louder.  We  must  ask  ourselves 
what  is  back  of  this  sentiment,  what  are  the  reasons 
which  prompt  a certain  group  of  Americans  to  agi- 


5 


tate  the  whole  country  against  Japanese.  Japanese 
newspapers,  without  studying  the  true  situation  and 
grasping  the  cold  reasons  are  making  a most  serious 
blunder,  il*  not  also  doing  a great  harm  to  Japan,  by 
foolishly  hurling  violent  vituperative  words  against 
America  and  Americans.  The  anti-racial  agitators 
are  saying:  ‘Japanese  are  unassimilable  and  therefore 
undesirable  people.’  We  Japanese  must  also  study 
their  arguments  calmly.  When  we  look  at  the  condi 
tions  among  Japanese  in  Hav'aii,  wc  cannot  help  but 
note  certain  things  which  cause  us  to  be  disliked  by 
American  people. 

a.  Living  conditions,  manners  and  habits  and  cus- 
toms, are  so  persistently  Japanese.  Some  Japanese 
scorn  the  manners  and  customs  of  this  country  in 
which  they  are  mere  sojourners.  Even  their  own 
countrymen  here  want  to  exclude  them  from  Hawaii. 

b.  Religious  conditions,  America  is  a country  of 
religious  freedom.  But  can  the  American  people  sit 
quietly  by  and  gaze  at  the  rapidity  with  which  their 
country  is  being  repagnized?  Hawaii,  a Christian 
country,  is  being  thoroughly  re  pagnized.  Idols  are 
being  imported.  Temples  are  being  erected  in  every 
nook  and  corner  of  the  Territory,  and  pagan  rites 
are  being  held.  Traditional  Sunday  observances  are 
giving  way  to  noisy  festivals  and  wrestling  tourna- 
ments at  the  temples  and  shrines. 

c.  Japanese  children  who  should  be  taught  and 
trained  into  good  American  citizens  are  being  taught 
Japanese  ideas  and  ideals.  It  is  an  inconsistency. 
Some  schools  have  changed  their  policy  and  system. 


6 


But  there  are  still  many  schools  which  cling  tenaci- 
ously to  the  old,  out-of-date  system. 

d.  Evasions  of  law.  Since  the  Prohibition  law  went 
into  effect  and  America  became  dry,  75  percent  of  the 
offenders  engaged  in  the  illicit  liquor  traffic  are 
Japanese.  A majority  of  the  offenders  in  gambling 
cases  are  also  Japanese. 

“Without  eradicating  these  sources  of  irritation, 
Japanese  can  not  hope  to  escape  from  the  odium  that 
they  are  ‘Unassimilable  and  undesirable  people.’ 
Whenever  any  question  like  California’s  arises,  it  is 
natural  for  us  to  expect  the  government  oi  the  two 
countries  to  arrive  at  a solution  through  diplomatic 
channels.  We  actually  want  to  have  the  vital  pro- 
blem solved  once  and  forever.  But  the  problem  re- 
lating to  Japanese  will  arise  again  and  again.  Noth 
ing  can  prevent  its  recurrence  unless  the  Japanese 
particularly  in  Hawaii,  become  wideawake  and  re- 
move those  causes  of  anti-Japanese  sentiment.  If 
this  is  done,  the  Japanese  question  will  be  settled  for- 
ever. 

“In  Hawaii  there  has  been,  hitherto,  hardly  any 
trace  of  ill  feeling  against  Japanese.  But  since  last 
year’s  school  agitation,  the  sentiment  of  the  commu- 
nity is  gradually  crysta'llizing  against  the  Japanese 
in  general.  This  year’s  plantation  laborers’  strike 
did  not  remain  a mere  capital-labor  dispute.  It  has 
turned  out  to  be  a terrific  clash  between  the  Ameri- 
can people  and  the  Japanese.  The  disturbances  of 
Japanese  laborers  served  not  only  as  excellent 
material  for  yellow  papers  and  anti-Japanese  agita- 
tors, but  also  as  a means  of  thickening  the  cloud 


7 


which  has  been  cast  over  the  relationship  between 
Americans  and  Japanese.  Rain  is  sure  to  come  down 
in  torrents  when  such  clouds  gather.  What  can  we 
do  when  a big  storm  like  California’s  comes?  We 
are  too  late  to  do  anything.  While  there  is  time  we 
must  strive  our  utmost  to  dispel  the  thickening 
clouds.” 

Then  Takie  Okumura  went  on  explaining  the  details  of 
his  forthcoming  campaign  and  appealed  for  their  moral 
support.  He  received  most  enthusiastic  support.  Among 
the  men  who  were  at  the  banquet  were : Viscount  Shibu- 
sawa;  J.  Horikoshi,  a silk  exporter  with  branches  in  Lon- 
don, Paris,  and  New  York  City  ;Baron  Y.  Sakatani,  former 
mayor  of  Tokyo  and  Minister  of  Finance;  S.  Asano,  Pre- 
sident of  Toyo  Kisen  Kaisha;  Professor  M.  Anesaki,  Ex- 
change Professor  at  Harvard  University ; Dr.  J.  Soyeda, 
ex-President  of  the  Industrial  Bank;  M.  Zumoto,  Editor  of 
Herald  of  Asia  and  formerly  private  secretary  of  Prince 
Ito ; M.  Ma.suda,  secretary  of  the  Japan- America  Relation 
Committee;  Dr.  T.  Harada,  and  T.  Chiba,  secretary  of  the 
North  American  Japanese  Association. 

Immediately  after  this  banquet  and  speech.  Viscount 
Shibusawa  arranged  a conference  with  Premier  Hara  and 
Foreign  Minister  Uchida.  On  August  10th,  Takie  Oku- 
mura met  Premier  Hara  and  discussed  with  him  the  Jap- 
anese question  in  Hawaii.  Premier  Hara  expressed  his 
enthusiastic  support  of  the  plan,  and  he  said  he  expects  that 
great  good  will  come  out  of  such  a campaign,  that  he  does 
not  object  to  a change  of  nationality  on  the  part  of  Jap- 
anese, for  such  a change  is  best  both  for  Japan  and  America. 
Okumura  asked  him  to  give  his  written  endorsement  of  the 
campaign,  which  he  promised  to  do. 

After  the  conference  with  Premier  Hara,  Takie  Oku- 
mura started  on  a tour  of  Japan  covering  nearly  the  whole 


8 


of  the  empire.  On  October  19th  he  interviewed  Mr.  T. 
Tanaka,  Chief  of  Commercial  Bureau,  Department  of  For- 
eign Affairs,  who  was  a vice-consul  at  Honolulu  about  14 
years  ago.  Mr.  Tanaka  expressed  his  explicit  support  and 
immediately  arranged  a conference  with  Foreign  Minister 
Uchida.  On  November  4th  Viscount  Shibusawa  further 
assisted  Mr.  Okumura’s  plan  by  giving  him  a farewell 
banquet  at  the  Bankers’  Club,  Tokyo.  Viscount  Shibu- 
sawa was  unfortunately  ill,  and  was  not  able  to  be  at  the 
banquet.  Mr.  R.  Fujiyama,  President  of  Tokj'o  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  and  Baron  Sakatani  acted  as  hosts.  Takie 
Okumura  was  again  asked  to  speak.  He  spoke  frankly 
on  Hawaii’s  problems  for  almost  two  hours. 

Some  of  the  farewell  speeches  were  singularly  frank  and 
earnest.  Baron  Sakatani  said  that  the  words  of  Mr.  Oku- 
mura had  profoundly  impressed  him,  and  that  he  was  will- 
ing to  do  anything  in  support  of  the  campaign.  He  sug- 
gested that  America  should  deport  all  undesirable  Japanese 
from  Hawaii.  He  called  on  the  Tokyo  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce to  do  something  immediately  towards  the  solution  of 
the  Japanese  problem  in  Hawaii.  Viscount  Kaneko,  a mem- 
ber of  the  Privy  Council,  and  a graduate  of  Harvard  Uni- 
versity, said  that  the  words  of  Mr.  Okumura  agreed  exactly 
with  what  he  had  always  advocated.  He  pointed  out  a 
clause  in  the  treaty  with  America  which  provides  for  the 
deportation  of  undesirable  Japanese  and  urged  that  Amer- 
ica should  not  hesitate  to  deport  all  undesirable  Japanese 
from  Hawaii.  He  then  added  this  statement  that  he  would 
be  the  first  one  to  go  to  Yokohama  and  see  that  these  un- 
desirable Japanese  are  surely  brought  back  to  Japan.  Dr. 
J.  Soyeda  declared  that  it  is  an  excellent  idea  for  Japanese 
in  Hawaii  and  America  to  remove  the  cause  of  friction 
and  of  anti-Japanese  sentiment,  but  that  Japanese  in  Japan 


9 


should  first  be  educated.  R.  Fujiyama  said  that  the  words 
of  Mr.  Okumura  had  opened  his  eyes.  He  said  that  he 
had  hitherto  blamed  only  the  American  people  for  the  anti- 
racial  sentiment,  and  had  harbored  no  good  feeling  towards 
them,  but  that  Mr.  Okumura  had  enabled  him  to  see  the 
fact  that  Japanese  are  to  be  blamed.  He  followed  the  sug- 
gestion of  Raron  Sakatani,  and  proposed  that  the  Tokyo 
Chamber  of  Commerce  establish  a Bureau  of  Immigration. 
“It  would  not  be  difficult  ”,  he  said,  “to  donate  $100,000 
per  year  for  the  Bureau  of  Immigration,  and  have  it  study 
the  problems  of  immigration.”  Consul-General  Moroi, 
formerly  at  Honolulu,  was  asked  to  make  a speech.  He 
declared  that  i\Ir.  Okumura  had  lived  in  Hawaii  for  many 
years  and  what  he  said  was  true,  and  that  he  did  not  need 
to  add  a word. 

As  a result  of  this  meeting,  the  Japan  Society  passed  a 
resolution  endorsing  our  campaign  of  education.  The  re- 
solution, with  the  names  of  the  members,  was  written  by 
Mscount  Shibusawa,  and  was  handed  to  Takie  Okumura. 
The  resolution  reads  as  follows; 

“The  members  of  the  Nichi-Bei  Kankei-Iin-Kai 
(Japan-America  Relation  Committee)  heartily  en- 
dorse your  plan  of  campaign  among  Japanese  in 
Hawaii.  We  are  in  accord  with  your  idea  in  every 
sense  of  the  word. 

“On  your  return  to  Hawaii,  will  you  not  inform 
our  countr3onen  in  Hawaii  of  our  aims,  and  enable 
them  to  cooperate  with  us  in  the  promotion  of  ever- 
lasting, cordial  relations  between  America  and  Jap- 
an, and  the  two  peoples? 

“Japanese  in  America  axe  often  subjected  to  the 
severe  criticism  that  they  are  unassimilable.  We  fear 
there  are  just  grounds  for  such  a charge  on  the  side 


10 


of  the  Japanese.  Japanese  in  America  and  Hawaii 
must  be  more  sincere  and  earnest  in  the  education  of 
their  children  who  are  born  on  American  soil  and 
who  are  expected  to  become  future  American  citizens. 
If  Japanese  are  truly  obedient  and  loyal  to  the  laws 
and  customs  of  America,  and  if  they  share  the  joys 
and  sorrows  of  American  people,  Americans,  not 
only  in  Hawaii  but  on  the  mainland,  would  come  to 
recognize  the  sincerity  and  earnestness  of  Japanese  in 
their  endeavors  to  become  Americanized  and  cordial 
relations  between  two  peoples  would  become  ever- 
lasting.” 

Viscount  Eiichi  Shibusawa, 
Chairman,  Nichi-Bei  Kankei  lin-Kai. 

Kintaro  Hattori  (Watch  and  Clock  Manufacturer) 
Tomitaro  Hara  (Raw  Silk  Merchant) 

Senkichiro  Hayakawa  (President,  Manchurian  R.  R.) 
Dr.  Inazo  Nitobe  (Secretary,  League  of  Nations) 
Zenjuro  Horikoshi  (Exporter  of  Silk  Goods) 

Kahei  Otani  (Great  Silk  and  Cocoon  Exporter) 
Baron  Kihachiro  Okura  (Pres.  Okura  Firm;  Dir. 

Leather  Mfg.  Co.,  Japan  Chemical  Company,  etc.) 
Toyoji  Wada  (Dir.  Fuji  Gas  Spinning  Co.) 

Viscount  Kentaro  Kaneko  (Privy  Councillor,  Har- 
vard man.) 

Chuji  Kajiwara  (President,  Yokohama  Specie  Bank) 
Kamakichi  Takata  (Business  man) 

Takuma  Dan  (Rep.  Mitsui  Family) 

Dr.  Juichi  Soyeda  (Prop.  Hochi  Shinbun,  Vice  Minis- 
ter of  Finance  in  Okuma  Cabinet,  Ex-Pres.  Indus- 
trial Bank  of  Japan.) 

Motosada  Zumoto  (Editor,  “Hearld  of  Asia,”  For- 
merly Secretary  of  late  Prince  Ito) 


11 


Baron  Tokichi  Uriu  (Admiral) 

Kakichi  Uchida  (Ex-Minister  of  Communication  and 
formerly  Civil  Governor  of  Formosa) 

Manzo  Kushida  (Representative  of  Baron  Iwasaki 
Family) 

Reizo  Yamashina  (Vice-Pres.  Tokyo  Chamber  of 
Commerce) 

Baron  Toranosuke  Furukawa  (Prop,  one  of  biggest 
mines) 

Raita  Fujiyama  (Pres.Tokyo  Chamber  of  Commerce) 
Teizo  Yeguchi  (Business  man) 

Soichiro  Asano  (President  Toyo  Risen  Kaisha) 
Baron  Yoshiro  Sakatani  (Ex-Mayor  of  Tokyo,  Ex- 
Minister  of  Finance,  Son-in-law  of  Viscount  Shibu- 
sawa) 

Tetsujiro  Hitachi  (Business  man) 

Gentaro  Shimura  (President  Japan  Hypothec  Bank) 
Saburo  Shimada  (Leader  of  Opposition  in  Parlia- 
ment. For  many  years  Speaker  of  Lower  House) 
Hisamoto  Hijikata  (Ex-Minister  of  Agriculture  and 
Commerce,  Ex-Minister  of  Imperial  Household) 
Baron  Kaisaku  Morimura  (Dir.  Fuji  Gas  Co.,  Hydro- 
Electric  Co.,  Meiji  Sugar  Mfg.  Co.,  etc.) 

Soroku  Ehara  (Educator,  Pres.  Y.M.C.A.,  Member 
House  of  Peers) 

Bunshiro  Hattori,  Secretary. 

Meiroku  Masuda,  Secretary. 

Kijugoro  Obata,  Secretary. 


12 


3.  METHOD. 


The  chief  cause  of  all  problems  in  Hawaii  between  the 
American  people  and  the  Japanese  is  the  radical  difference 
in  the  ideas  of  Americans  and  Japanese.  Many  Japanese 
think  that  “Every  movement  of  the  Japanese,  even  if  it  is 
bad  one,  should  be  backed  up  by  every  Japanese” ; “Any- 
one who  opposes  any  movement  of  the  Japanese  is  a trai- 
tor”; “Once  a Japanese,  always  a Japanese”;  “Hawaii  is  a 
mere  stepping  stone  to  fortune”;  or  “It  is  an  act  of  dis- 
loyalty to  Japan  to  train  the  children  born  in  Hawaii  into 
a good  and  loyal  element  of  Hawaii.”  Unless  these  funda- 
mental ideas  of  Japanese,  which,  we  believe,  are  mistaken 
and  are  bound  to  cause  serious  differences  and  continual 
friction,  are  eradicated,  no  lasting  solution  of  all  problems 
can  be  worked  out. 

Therefore  in  our  campaign  our  objective  is  first  of  all 
to  encourage  the  Japanese  to  discard  their  mistaken  ideas; 
secondly,  to  urge  them  adapt  themselves  to  American  cus- 
toms and  manners ; thirdly,  to  make  them  realize  that  the 
education,  or  training  of  children  born  in  these  islands  into 
a good  and  loyal  element  of  Hawaii  and  America  is  not  an 
act  of  disloyalty  to  their  country  or  their  forefathers,  and 
fourthly,  to  encourage  the  Japanese  in  taking  the  initiative 
in  bringing  about  a peaceful  and  lasting  solution  of  all 
problems. 

If  these  objectives  can  really  be  accomplished,  we  believe 
all  problems  would  be  solved,  and  the  two  peoples  can  live 
in  harmony  and  friendship.  If  not,  they  will  continue  to 
live  in  mutual  misunderstanding  and  suspicion. 

In  order  to  realize  our  objectives,  we  entirely  avoid  mass 
meetings,  for  the  effect  of  such  meetings  would  be  injurious 
rather  than  beneficial.  In  all  plantation,  we  seek  first  of 
all  the  assistance  of  the  plantation  manager  in  selecting  a 


13 


group  of  about  10  or  20  “key”  men, — men  whom  we  can 
really  rely  upon.  With  these  men  we  hold  a face  to  face 
conference,  present  our  ideas  very  frankly,  and  try  to  con- 
vince them.  When  the  men  are  convinced,  and  decide  to 
cooperate  with  us,  or  act  as  volunteers  in  the  community 
while  we  are  gone,  we  ask  their  pledges.  We  hope  to 
keep  up  this  slow  and  quiet  method  of  campaign  for  the 
next  two  or  three  years,  and  to  secure  the  pledges  of  at 
least  one  half,  or  three  fourths,  of  the  entire  Japanese  com- 
munity in  each  plantation. 

The  chief  reason  that  prompts  us  to  secure  names  at  each 
meeting  with  laborers  is  to  test  whether  we  have  really 
convinced  them,  and  whether  the  men  are  sincere.  No 
man  who  is  not  sincere  would  come  forth  in  the  presence 
of  many  laborers  and  declare  his  intention  of  promoting 
these  ideas. 

The  second  reason  is  that  these  men  can  act  as  our  agents 
or  helpers  in  their  particular  locality  or  plantation.  They 
help  us  in  distributing  the  literature,  handbills,  etc.  to  other 
laborers,  and  in  arranging  the  meetings. 

The  third  reason  is  that  these  men  are  expected  to  become 
a leaven  for  good  in  each  plantation,  or  locality.  Through 
them  we  hope  to  change  the  attitude  and  spirit  of  the  Jap- 
anese toward  the  American  people  and  their  interests.  With 
this  end  in  view,  we  keep  in  touch  with  them  by  constantly 
sending  out  letters,  postals,  or  circulars. 


14 


4.  FIRST  CAMPAIGN 


In  our  first  campaign,  from  the  month  of  January  to 
July,  we  emphasized,  in  simplest  and  clearest  ways,  two 
ideas  which  we  believe  will  serve  to  dispel  the  mistaken 
ideas  of  the  Japanese: 

a.  Forget  the  idea  “Japanese”  and  always  think 
and  act  from  the  point  of  view  of  the  American  peo- 
ple, as  long  as  you  live  under  the  protection  of  Ameri- 
ca, and  enjoy  many  privileges  and  blessings. 

b.  In  as  much  as  your  children  were  born  in 
Hawaii,  and  expect  to  live  here  permanently  and  work 
shoulder  to  shoulder  with  the  American  people,  you 
should  educate  and  build  them  up  into  good  and 
loyal  American  citizens.  If  you  dislike  your  child 
reu  to  live  and  work  in  Hawaii,  if  you  prefer  them  to 
be  educated  into  Japanese,  you  should  send  them 
back  immediately  to  Japan  and  have  them  educated 
in  that  country,  for  when  they  grow  up,  they  will  be- 
come not  assets  but  liabilities. 

In  our  speeches  to  the  Hawaiian-born  Japanese  on  the 
plantations  we  have  emphasized  their  opportunities  for 
service  and  their  duties  to  the  plantations  and  Hawaii. 

From  January  7th  to  11th,  Takie  Okumura  went  alone  to 
Kauai,  made  a careful  survey  of  the  field,  and  prepared  for 
tlie  launching  of  the  campaign.  On  January  27th  we 
went  back  to  Kauai,  and  finally  started  the  campaign,  be- 
ginning at  Lihue.  We  met  Manager  Moler  and  secured 
from  him  a list  of  about  15  representative  Japanese  laborers 
in  different  camps.  We  called  on  everyone  of  these  men, 
exchanged  our  views,  and  enlisted  their  support.  But  we 
discovered  that  this  method  of  campaign  would  require  so 


15 


many  days,  and  that  we  would  not  be  able  to  cover  the 
definite  number  of  plantations  in  a limited  period  of  time. 
After  three  days  at  Lihue,  we  changed  our  tactics,  and  re- 
quested each  plantation  manager  to  pick  a certain  number 
of  good,  reliable  Japanese  on  his  plantation  and  have  these 
men  meet  us  in  a quiet,  face  to  face  conference.  This 
plan  proved  to  be  the  best  one,  and  we  kept  it  up  right 
through  the  first  campaign. 

The  plantations  visited  and  the  number  of  pledges  se- 
cured were  as  follows: 

January  27th  to  February  5th: 


Lihue, 

38. 

Kapaa, 

14. 

Kealia. 

2. 

Anahola, 

4. 

Huleia, 

11. 

Waimea, 

8. 

Kekaha, 

9. 

Hanapepe, 

10. 

Makaweli, 

28. 

Koloa, 

20. 

Eleele-Wahi'awa, 

25. 

169. 

March  9th  to  19th: 


Olaa, 

21. 

Papaikou, 

21. 

Hilo. 

19. 

Waiakea, 

5. 

Wainaku, 

8. 

16 


Hakalau,  16. 

Honomu,  20. 


108. 

April  20th  to  29th: 


Lahaina, 

15. 

Baldwin  Packers, 

7. 

Olowalu, 

7. 

W'ailuku, 

12. 

Kula 

1. 

Wailuku  Town, 

13. 

Paia, 

16. 

Puunene, 

S3. 

Kahului, 

9. 

Haiku, 

16. 

149. 

May  to  June: 

Aiea, 

25. 

Ewa, 

28. 

Ewa, 

20. 

Ewa, 

8. 

Waipahu, 

32. 

Waialua, 

13. 

Honouliuli, 

14. 

140. 

July  9th  to  29th: 

Honokaa, 


17 


23. 


Paauhau, 

10. 

Paauilo, 

22. 

Ookala, 

15. 

Laupahoehoe, 

1. 

Papaaloa, 

21. 

Pahala, 

25. 

Honaunau, 

13. 

Kealakekua, 

20. 

Keauhou, 

23. 

Holualoa, 

8. 

Kohala, 

15. 

Hawi, 

11. 

Union  Mill, 

22. 

22'^. 

Total  47  plantations  and  towns  visited, 
795  pledges  secured. 

We  were  amazed  by  the  great  changes  which  are  taking 
place  among  the  Japanese,  particularly  in  their  ideas.  About 
ten  years  ago  the  ideas  which  we  have  emphasized  in  the 
first  campaign  would  have  been  attacked  and  ridiculed  as 
ideas  of  “betrayer”,  or  “traitor”.  But  today  it  is  entirely 
different.  W’hen  we  approached  the  Japanese  with  these 
ideas,  we  found  them  very  receptive  and  keenly  interested 
in  our  campaign.  Many  were  hitherto  unable  to  express 
themselves  in  the  open  for  fear  of  being  branded  “traitor 
to  Japan  and  Japanese”.  They  were  eagerly  waiting  for 
some  one  to  come  out  and  lead  them.  Naturally  when  we 
told  them  the  views  of  leaders  in  Japan,  like  Viscount  Shi- 
busawa  and  others,  that  Japanese  in  Hawaii  can  serve  their 
country  best  by  removing  all  causes  of  friction  between  the 
American  people  and  Japanese,  and  by  training  whole- 
heartedly their  children  born  in  these  islands  into  not  half 


18 


and  half,  but  100  percent  American  citizens,  many  Japan- 
ese pledged  themselves  to  stand  and  work  for  the  ideas  we 
have  urged  them  to  follow. 

Unlike  the  early  immigrant  days  when  laborers  were 
seeking  a fortune  in  get-rich-quick  fashion,  and  hurriedly 
returning  to  their  native  country,  many  are  today  working 
on  the  plantations  with  a definite  idea  of  settling  in  Hawaii 
permanently.  The  Japanese  of  Halaula  camp  just  above 
Kealia,  Kauai,  are  a good  example.  According  to  the  state- 
ment of  one  headman,  there  are  53  Japanese  families  in 
that  camp.  With  the  exception  of  four  families  which 
returned  to  Japan,  all  the  rest  will  make  Hawaii  their  per- 
manent home.  He  said  “we  will  see  to  it  that  our  men  live 
up  to  their  resolution  and  build  up  themselves  into  desirable 
laborers”.  The  gradual  change  of  Japanese  in  their  ideas 
is  a most  splendid  thing  not  only  for  themselves  and  their 
children,  but  also  for  Hawaii. 

With  the  exception  of  one  plantation  manager  who  de- 
clared: “Americanization  work  is  no  use,  no  good;  a Jap 
should  ahvays  be  a Jap.  Haivaiian-born  Japs  are  no  good. 
They’re  too  weak.  All  they  zvant  is  a soft-snap  job.  IV e 
don’t  want  them’’,  all  the  plantation  managers  assisted  us, 
and  gave  us  many  valuable  suggestions.  We  were  impress- 
ed greatly  by  the  frankness  and  readiness  of  plantation 
managers  to  do  all  that  they  can  for  the  laborers.  We 
believe  in  some  cases  too  much  has  been  done  and  no  efforts 
were  made  to  have  the  laborers  realize  that  they  must  work 
in  order  to  secure  any  reform  or  improvement.  With  the 
exception  of  a few  plantations,  living  or  working  conditions 
on  the  whole  are  excellent.  In  reply  to  our  questions  men 
on  the  plantations  have  invariably  declared:  “We  have  no 
complaints  to  make.  We  are  satisfied  with  the  present  con- 
ditions and  are  proud  of  our  manager !”  We  believe  that 
their  utterances  are  sincere  and  they  will  surely  come  to 


19 


show  their  appreciation  in  concrete  manner. 

To  some  of  the  plantation  managers  we  made  following 
requests : 

(a)  Efforts  must  be  made  to  make  the  laborers 
feel  “at  home.”  In  this  connection  we  have  very 
little  to  say  since  the  plantations  are  speedily  improv- 
ing the  living  conditions.  We  urge,  however,  that 
plantations  which  have  hitherto  never  attempted  to 
do  anything  should  immediately  map  out  their  pro- 
gramme of  improvement.  For  improved  living  con- 
ditions is  the  best  inducement  to  the  laborers  to  work 
permanently.  The  feeling  of  “at  home”  cannot  be 
roused  among  Japanese  laborers  by  movies,  volley- 
ball, basket-ball,  or  games  at  the  community  house, 
because  they  do  not  have  any  interest,  nor  do  they 
understand  or  care  for  them.  A moderate  house 
with  particular  care  to  the  kitchen,  like  the  plan  of 
Manager  Valentine  of  Olowalu  will  satisfy  the  labor- 
ers more  than  anything  else.  But  it  would  not  do  for 
the  plantations  to  give  everythnig  or  too  much  and 
make  the  laborers  too  dependent.  The  laborers  must 
be  made  to  realize  that  they  must  work  in  order  to 
secure  what  they  desire. 

(b)  Support  the  Language  Schools  on  Planta- 
tions. As  long  as  the  adult  Japanese  in  large  num- 
bers exists,  the  Japanese  language  schools  must  be 
kept  up  on  the  plantation.  If  the  Plantation  Japan- 
ese Schools  are  removed  or  abolished,  we 
would  surely  see  Japanese  laborers  moving 
away  to  the  plantations  which  maintain  Japanese 
schools.  It  is  well,  therefore,  that  plantations  help 
the  parents  secure  a well-qualified  teacher  and  have 


20 


him  conduct  the  school.  On  the  plantation,  the  lan- 
guage school  teacher  is  a big  figure  and  the  school 
is  the  central  meeting  place.  Today  more  money  is 
being  contributed  by  parents  to  the  school  than  to 
the  Buddhist  Temple  or  Shrine.  Remove  this  insti- 
tution and  we  would  surely  be  forced  to  face  the 
restlessness  and  constant  shifting  of  Japanese 
laborers. 

(c)  Discourage  Anti  Japanese  Sentiment  on  Plan- 
tations. The  constant  nagging  of  Japanese  must  be 
discouraged  on  plantations,  for  Anti-Japanese  senti- 
ment is  the  easiest  thing  that  incites  restlessness  and 
discontent  among  simple  minded  Japanese  laborers. 
Once  an  impression  is  created  in  their  mind  that 
they  cannot  work  in  these  Islands  peacefully  and 
contentedly,  all  idea  of  permanent  settlement  will 
disappear  and  many  Japanese  laborers  will  be  forced 
to  go  away.  In  order  to  encourage  their  permanent 
settlement  in  Hawaii,  anti- Japanese  sentiment  must  be 
discouraged  by  plantations. 


21 


5.  SECOND  CAMPAIGN 


By  visiting  all  the  plantations  we  have  been  able  to  see 
the  actual  living  and  working  conditions  thereon,  know 
the  problems  of  sugar  plantations  and  pineapple  plantations, 
and  hear  the  grievances  and  hopes  of  both  the  laborers  and 
the  plantations  that  employ  them.  We  felt,  however,  that 
the  Japanese  laborers  on  most  of  the  plantations  have  lost 
their  confidence.  In  some  of  the  plantations,  Japanese 
laborers  are  looked  upon  as  very  unreliable  laborers.  They 
become  easily  provoked  over  little  things,  pack  their  be- 
longings and  shift  from  place  to  place.  Even  if  they  are 
provided  with  a good  cottage  and  a plot  of  ground,  they 
do  not  seem  to  appreciate  it.  They  are  perfectly  indiffer- 
ent to  the  appearance  of  their  homes  whether  inside  or  out- 
side. They  are  not  frank,  and  business-like.  Most  of  the 
plantation  managers  declared  that  the  efficiency  of  Japanese 
laborers  is  going  down  year  after  year.  Japanese  laborers 
are  not  working  as  they  used  to  do  in  the  past.  Statistics 
substantiating  this  charge  were  shown  to  us.  We  were 
deluged  with  all  sorts  of  complaints,  but  were  forced  to 
admit  that  a good  many  of  those  charges  are  true. 

In  a few  places,  however,  we  found  Japanese  laborers 
highly  spoken  of.  The  managers  of  these  plantations  de- 
clared that  the  efficiency  of  Japanese  laborers  is  higher  than 
of  any  other  nationality,  and  that  they  will  be  contented 
if  only  Japanese  remain  on  their  plantations. 

In  our  second  campaign,  therefore,  we  not  only  empha- 
sized the  two  ideas  we  laid  stress  upon  in  the  first  campaign, 
but  also  pointed  out  to  the  Japanese  that  they  are  gradually 
losing  the  confidence  of  American  people,  and  advised  them 
how  they  may  be  able  to  regain  it.  We  frankly  told  the 
Japanese  the  complaints  we  have  heard  everywhere  and 
advised  them  that  they  must  make  their  cottages  more  home- 


22 


like,  that  they  must  go  into  their  work  with  earnestness 
and  refrain  from  everything,  like  excessive  drinking,  which 
would  decrease  their  efficiency,  and  that,  giving  up  ex- 
pensive birthday,  marriage,  funeral  or  farewell  dinners  or 
entertainments,  they  should  practice  strict  economy.  W^e 
urged  them  that  their  pressing  duty  today  is  to  build  up 
their  character  and  efficiency,  and  be  recognized  by  the 
plantations  as  really  reliable  and  indispensable  laborers. 
Then  Hawaii’s  labor  problem  will  be  automatically  solved. 

In  the  second  campaign  the  plantations  visited  and  the 
number  of  pledges  secured  were  as  follows: 

August  18th  to  27th: 


Koloa, 

15. 

Puhi, 

15, 

Lihue, 

22. 

W'ahiawa, 

16. 

Makaweli, 

20. 

Kealia, 

10. 

Kilauea, 

22. 

120. 

September: 

Kahuku, 

7. 

October  5th  to  12th: 

Baldwin  Packers, 

8. 

Olowalu, 

10. 

Puunene, 

30. 

Waihei, 

1. 

23 


Paia, 

Haiku, 


38. 

24. 


Keahua, 

18. 

November  7th  to  12th: 

Keahua, 

30. 

Hamakuapoko, 

21. 

Waikapu, 

16. 

Waihei, 

14. 

192. 

November  26th  to  December  9th: 

Hilo, 

29. 

Olaa,  9 miles. 

33. 

Olaa,  17  miles. 

30. 

Pahala, 

28. 

Pahoa, 

46. 

Papaikou, 

19. 

Pepeekeo, 

4. 

Hakalau, 

43. 

Honomu, 

58. 

Wainaku, 

9. 

Waiakea, 

11. 

310. 

Total,  Plantations  and  towns  visited,  28. 
Number  of  Pledges,  657. 


24 


Gross  Total, 

Plantations  and  Towns  visited,  75. 

Number  of  Pledges  secured,  1,452. 

In  our  second  campaign  we  were  assisted  greatly  by  the 
plantation  managers  and  the  men  who  pledged  in  the  first 
campaign  in  arranging  the  meeting  places.  Many  of  the 
plantations  sent  out  trucks,  or  even  special  trains  to  bring 
the  men  from  the  outlying  camps. 

We  did  not  realize  that  we  would  be  so  successful  in 
reaching  the  men  and  gaining  their  hearing.  Their  res- 
ponses and  interest  in  our  campaign  have  given  us  great 
encouragement. 

We  expect  to  see  great  changes  within  the  next  few 
years.  Already  inklings  of  this  change  have  appeared.  Olaa 
Nine  Miles  is  a good  instance.  Hitherto  Japanese  of  Olaa 
Nine  Miles  have  been  regarded  as  most  conservative  and 
violently  anti-Christians.  After  a conference  with  us  in 
our  first  campaign,  the  men  returned  to  their  camps,  and 
were  said  to  have  gossiped  as  follows:  “We  were  under 

an  impression  that  the  two  Okumuras  are  most  fierce-look- 
ing  anti-Japanese  agitators.  We  discovered  we  were  great- 
ly mistaken.  The  very  look  of  those  men  and  their  ideas 
have  opened  our  eyes.  They  are  real  patriots  and  not 
traitors”.  When  we  returned  to  Olaa  in  the  later  part  of 
November,  we  met  more  than  150  Japanese  crowded  in  a 
Buddhist  Temple.  For  two  hours  these  men  listened  most 
attentively,  not  a single  man  leaving  the  hall  or  smoking 
a cigarette.  A helper  came  to  us  after  the  meeting,  and 
said  he  had  never  .seen  such  a meeting  before.  Fie  said 
that  it  is  customary  in  Olaa  nine  miles  whenever  any  speaker 
speaks  more  than  one  hour  the  Japanese  would  begin  to 
smoke  or  leave  the  hall,  and  break  up  the  meeting. 

A certain  man  at  Keahua,  Paia,  on  the  island  of  Maui, 


25 


who  signed  the  pledge  in  the  first  campaign  has  taken 
great  interest  in  our  campaign,  and  has  been  repeatedly 
sending  us  an  additional  number  of  signed  pledges.  Re- 
cently he  sent  to  us  the  following  letter : 

We  appreciate  your  endeavors  for  Americaniza- 
tion, and  the  cordial  relations  between  the  American 
people  and  Japanese,  and  the  encouragement  of  thrift. 
In  our  camp  we  have  three  organizations  working 
for  these  aims.  But  after  your  talk  to  us,  we  felt  we 
ought  to  do  more  for  the  improvement  of  laborers  in 
the  camp.  Six  officers  of  three  organizations  met 
recently  and  have  organized  an  associated  organiza- 
tion. The  members  of  the  three  organizations  wish 
to  endorse  your  campaign  and  promise  to  carry  out 
your  ideas.” 

We  can  see  from  the  following  leilers  how  the  leaders  in 
Japan  are  watching  our  campaign : 

(a)  Viscount  E.  Shibusawa:  “I  am  sure  you 

have  begun  the  campaign  which  you  have  related  to 
us.  In  a campaign  to  create  better  relationship  be- 
tween the  American  people  and  Ja,panese,  mere 
words  can  not  accomplish  anything.  Words  must 
be  followed  by  actions.  The  letter  and  resolution 
handed  to  you  last  November  were  written  in  this 
spirit.  I sincerely  hope  that  you  will  cooperate  with 
the  Japanese  in  general,  and  realize  in  Hawaii  the 
fruit  of  closer  and  harmonious  relations  between  the 
two  countries.” 

(b)  Dr.  Juichi  Soyeda:  “I  have  read  your  re- 

port with  great  interest.  We  appreciate  your  unsel- 
fish effort  for  our  countrymen  in  Hawaii.  We  ear- 
nestly wish  that  you  would  strive  further.” 


26 


(c)  Secretary-General  Kawai,  House  of  Peers: 

“May  I thank  you  for  your  detailed  and  very  inter- 
esting report.  I am  astounded  at  the  remarkable 
success  which  you  are  already  achieving ” 

(d)  Viscount  Kentaro  Kaneko:  “I  have  read 

your  interesting  report  on  Kauai  again  and  again.  I 
am  in  hearty  accord  with  your  ideas.  They  are  ideas 
which  I have  advocated  for  many  years.  I wish  that 
you  would  not  give  up  your  splendid  work  until 
final  success  is  realized.” 

(e)  Baron  Yoshiro  Sakatani:  “I  am  glad  to 

know  that  you  have  started  your  campaign  which 
you  so  convincingly  related  to  us  during  your  re- 
cent trip  to  Japan.  I have  read  your  report  with 
great  interest.  I believe  your  campaign  is  the  best 
way  of  cementing  cordial  relations  between  America 
and  Japan.  There  is  no  greater  blessing  on  Japanese 
in  Hawaii  than  this.  Don’t  be  discouraged  and 
strive  for  the  realization  of  your  ideal.  Leaders  in 
Japan  are  all  backing  your  campaign  and  are  praying 
to  God  for  your  success.” 

From  Plantation  Japanese  we  have  received  many  letters 
of  appreciation.  The  following  letters  express  their  senti- 
ment : 


(a)  A Lihue  Laborer:  “I  have  been  tell- 

ing our  men  your  splendid  ideas.  Men  are  very  en- 
thusiastic and  willing  to  help  your  campaign.  Send 
us  more  literature.” 

(b)  A Puunene  Laborer:  “We  are  back  of  you. 

We  appreciate  your  work  in  our  behalf.” 


(c)  A Paia  Laborer:  “We  appreciate  your 

splendid  work  in  our  behalf.  If  men  in  the  camps 
can  hear  your  talk  their  present  misunderstandings 
would  surely  disappear,  because  I myself  have  dis- 
covered my  own  errors.  I have  been  distributing 
your  literature  to  every  man.  I am  with  you  in  your 
work.  I am  ready  to  risk  even  my  life  for  your 
splendid  work  of  promoting  better  relations  between 
American  people  and  Japanese  in  Hawaii.  Don’t  hesi- 
tate to  assign  any  work  to  me.” 

(d)  Another  Puunene  Laborer:  “I  am  distribut 

ing  your  literature  to  every  man  I meet  on  the  fields 
or  in  camp.  Time  is  very  ripe  and  I am  hoping  to 
see  a great  result  on  this  plantation.” 


28 


6.  THE  HOPES. 


One  of  the  severe  charges  constantly  brought  against 
the  Japanese  is  that  they  are  “unassimilable  and  therefore 
undesirable”.  The  chief  argument  of  men  who  have  agi- 
tated for  the  enactment  of  Japanese  Exclusion  Law  is  the 
“unassimilability”  of  Japanese.  We  admit  frankly  that 
Japanese  have  been  frightfully  slow  in  adapting  themselves 
to  the  customs  and  manners  of  America.  We  regret  that 
Japanese  themselves  have  sown  the  seeds  of  misunderstand- 
ings. They  have  unscrupulously  built  up  “little  Japans” 
here  and  there.  They  have  courted  grave  suspicions  by 
their  strong  loyalty  to  their  native  country,  and  by  their 
enthusiasm  for  their  traditional  customs  and  manners. 

But  one  thing  should  be  carefully  considered.  Japan 
for  2500  years  was  a hermit  empire.  Its  door  was  securely 
shut  until  the  visit  of  Commodore  Perry,  1846,  a little  over 
70  years  ago.  In  February,  1885,  just  thirty  nine  years 
after  the  opening  of  the  door  of  Japan,  the  first  company 
of  Japanese  immigrants  arrived  on  these  islands.  Compared 
to  the  Anglo-Saxon  race  which  had  through  years  of  colo- 
nization experiences  shown  remarkable  power  of  assimi- 
lability,  these  Japanese  immigrants  were  most  wretched 
groups  of  men.  They  knew  nothing  of  the  conditions 
of  these  islands.  They  had  not  the  ability  or  highly  deve- 
loped capacity  to  assimilate  the  customs  and  manner  and 
tastes  of  the  people  here.  Moreover  in  Hawaii  there  is 
no  middle  class  among  either  Americans  or  Japanese.  The 
.\merican  community  consists  of  highly  trained  people ; 
the  Japanese  population  came  from  the  uneducated  farmer 
class ; the  result  is  they  were  thrown  into  a community 
where  the  social  cleavage  between  the  American  people  and 
Japanese  is  so  sharp  and  distinct,  and  where  the  majority 
of  the  Japanese  as  laborers  are  huddled  together  in  an  iso- 


29 


latecl  condition  on  the  plantations,  without  any  opportunity 
of  direct  personal  contact  with  “good”  American  people, 
or  of  sincere  appreciation  of  American  ideals.  And  they 
did  not  think  of  Hawaii  as  their  permanent  place  of  settle- 
ment. It  is  no  wonder  that  they  did  not  assimilate  as 
quickly  as  they  should  have  done. 

The  slow  and  almost  invisible  assimilation,  which  the 
Japanese  have  now  acquired,  does  not  prove  the  unassimi- 
lability  of  the  Japanese.  It  is  perfectly  unreasonable  to 
pass  judgment  on  any  particular  race  or  nationality  just 
by  picking  up  the  superficial  facts  which  are  so  apparent 
to  the  stranger.  A true  assimilation  works  from  within, 
and  it  takes  years  for  a particular  race,  or  nationality,  to 
truly  assimilate  the  ideals  of  the  country  to  which  they 
have  migrated.  Japanese  can  and  will  assimilate,  if  a rea- 
sonable opportunity  of  breathing  in  the  best  of  American 
life  and  the  true,  wholesome  ideas  of  America  is  given. 

Already  a radical  change  is  taking  place  among  the  Jap- 
anese today.  The  Japanese  on  plantations  and  in  the  dif- 
ferent towns  today  are  different  from  those  of  early  im- 
migrant days.  The  taste  of  the  drifter  has  disappeared, 
and  the  majority  of  Japanese  have  come  to  make  Hawaii 
their  permanent  home.  Instead  of  sending  the  bulk  of 
their  earnings  to  Japan,  they  are  investing  their  money  in 
the  island  industries,  and  have  come  to  see  that  they  must 
assimilate  American  ideas  and  ideals,  American  customs 
and  manners,  if  they  are  to  live  here  and  work  side  by  side 
with  the  American  people.  They  have  clearly  displayed 
their  spirit  of  cooperation  with  the  American  people,  parti- 
cularly during  the  war,  and  in  the  various  welfare  fund 
drives.  In  our  tours  of  different  islands,  we  were  pro- 
foundly impressed  by  the  Japanese  sincerely  thinking  of 
the  general  welfare  of  Hawaii.  This  is  surely  a remarkable 
change  and  progress  for  the  immigrants  with  only  30  or  40 


30 


years’  experience. 

The  unconscious  revolution  which  the  children  born  in 
these  islands  are  undergoing  is  far  more  remarkable.  They 
speak  the  English  language  more  freely  and  fluently  than 
Japanese.  They  are  receiving  from  public  schools  far 
greater  influences  than  from  their  homes,  or  Japanese  Lan- 
guage Schools.  Brought  up  in  the  Christian  atmosphere, 
they  have  an  innate  consciousness  of  God.  It  is  a super- 
man’s job  for  any  Buddhist  priest  to  instil  into  their  minds 
the  Buddhistic  teachings.  Their  ideal,  their  interest,  their 
tastes,  their  hopes  and  their  ambition  are  totally  different 
from  those  of  young  men  of  Japan.  “That  far  country’’ 
of  their  fathers  is  a foreign  country  to  them.  Their  ideals 
and  interest  are  all  bound  up  only  with  America.  Ameri- 
can citizenship  i,<  to  them  a badge  of  honor  and  distinction. 
It  is  no  wonder  that  Baron  Goto  was  moved  to  say;  “These 
boys  and  girls  are  Americans  in  all  but  their  physical  ap- 
pearance". They  have  proven  their  worth  by  the  attitude 
which  they  displayed  in  regard  to  the  School  Question, 
Japanese  Language  Press  Question  and  the  strike. 

We  have  had,  and  we  still  have  many  problems  among 
the  Japane.se  which  must  be  solved.  We  are  experiencing 
great  difficulty  in  their  solution,  chiefly  because  we  lack 
strong  leaders  among  the  Japanese.  We  mean  by  strong 
leaders  men  who  are  not  afraid  to  stand  and  fight  for  prin- 
ciples again.st  the  mass.  The  same  is  true  with  the  Ha- 
waiian-born Japanese.  W’ith  proper  leaders,  they  can  really 
become  good  and  loyal  .\merican  citizens.  We  shall  be 
satisfied  if  our  campaign  throughout  the  islands  can  serve 
to  bring  out  leaders  not  only  of  the  adult  Japanese,  but 
also  of  the  Hawaiian-born  Japanese. 


31 


We  are  exceedingly  grateful  to  Messrs.  Geo.  P. 
Castle,  W.  D.  Westervelt,  F.  C.  Atherton,  C.  H.  Cooke, 
R.  A.  Cooke,  and  their  friends  for  their  kindly  inter- 
est and  assistance  in  making  our  campaign  possible 
and  so  successful ; to  Messrs.  A.  J.  Watt,  J.  T.  Moir, 
R.  A.  Hutchin.son,  J.  M.  Ross,  J.  A.  Campsie,  Wm. 
Pullar,  L.  W.  Wishard,  G.  C.  Watt,  D.  Forbes,  A. 
Scott,  J.  Webster,  A.  P>lack,  J.  Johnston,  F.  M.  An- 
derson, Naquin,  Rev.  K.  Higuchi,  Rev.  S.  Sokabe, 
Rev.  S.  Aoki,  Rev.  C.  Sagawa,  J.  Sakamaki,  T.  Ta- 
kagaki,  W.  A.  Baldwin,  C.  E.  S.  Burns,  S.  Hocking, 
H.  .A.  Baldwin,  F.  F.  Baldwin,  A.  Valentine,  A.  W. 
Collins,  H.  B.  Penhallow,  W.  A.  Tate,  Rev.  S.  Naga- 
mori,  N.  Otsuka,  M.  Tanaka,  S.  Kanda,  F.  A.  Alex- 
ander, B.  D.  Baldwin,  H.  Wolters,  A.  H.  Waterhouse, 
Ernest  Cropp,  L.  D.  Larsen,  R.  D.  Moler,  G.  N.  Wil- 
cox, E.  H.  Broadbent,  R.  W.  Bayless,  H.  D.  Slogget, 
H.  P.  Faye,  G.  R. Ewart,  Jr.,  Andrew  Adams,  Rev. 
K.  Okamoto,  T.  Fukunaga,  K.  Yokogawa,  K.  Taki- 
tani,  W.  W.  Goodale,  Geo.  F.  Renton,  Jr.,  James 
Gibbs,  J.  B.  Thompson,  G.  Cruickshank,  and  J.  K. 
Butler  for  their  kindly  assistances. 


32 


